Harris wins 2014 Miss Whitley County Fair Pageant

Haley Harris was crowned Miss Whitley County Fair Saturday.

Williamsburg High School student Haley Harris is the new Miss Whitley County Fair 2014.

Harris beat out eight other contestants to grab the crown during the pageant, which was held Saturday evening at the Williamsburg Tourism and Convention Center.

Harris admits that she was "very surprised" to have won the pageant.

"I feel very honored. I can’t wait to represent Whitley County at the Kentucky State Fair Pageant in January," Harris said.
Harris said that when she entered the pageant she always had hopes of winning but was never sure.

"I really enjoyed being with all these girls and I knew that it could belong to any of us," she added.

Harris was crowned by outgoing 2013 Miss Whitley County Fair Taylor Hamlin.

Harris received a $3,000 scholarship from the University of the Cumberlands, a $1,500 scholarship from Women Helping Others, a $1,000 scholarship from the Whitley County Fair and a $500 scholarship from Pepsi.

She also received a crown from Enchanted Production, flowers from Merry’s Flowers, a plaque from the Whitley County Fair and a gift from S&J Design.

2014 Corbin High School graduate Haylee Abbott was the first runner-up.

Corbin High School student Hannah Logan was the second-runner up.

The Miss Whitley County Fair Pageant is only open to girls who are beginning their senior year or who have just completed their senior year of high school at Whitley County, Williamsburg or Corbin High Schools.

This year’s Miss Whitley County Fair Pageant was dedicated to Charlena Fields, who is the mother of Miss Whitley County Fair Pageant Director Tammy Walker.

Fields died last November and had suffered heart related problems for her whole life.

A moment of silence was held in her honor.

Contestants raised a total of $4,125 for the American Heart Association through individual fundraising efforts.

Harris won both the swimsuit and evening gown competitions, which each accounted for 30 percent of the judge’s scores.
In addition, she was also voted most photogenic and received the American Heart Association Award for having raised the most money out of the nine candidates.

Brooke Way won the interview competition, which accounted for 30 percent of the judge’s scores.

The remaining 10 percent of judge’s scores came from the on stage question that contestants answered during the pageant Saturday evening.

Marissa Fuson won the Miss Congeniality Award.

The other contestants included: Megan Sizemore, Brittany Fuson, Hannah Jo Rutherford and Savanna Sizemore.